Golf bag

ABSTRACT

A new and improved golf bag comprising a shallow handle retainer having a bottom and upstanding sides. The upstanding sides defining an opening through which handles of golf clubs may be positioned to rest on the bottom of the retainer. A strap extending from the periphery of the opening outwardly away from the retainer the length corresponding to the substantial length of the shorter clubs to be used with the golf bag, an adjustable collar secured to the distal end of said strap, both the collar and the strap are flexible and non-resilient and not expandable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and improved golf bag andmore particularly to a light weight golf bag for carrying six to eightclubs in a manner that makes each of the clubs readily visible.

[0002] Golf bags have been utilized since the inception of the sport inScotland. Golf bags are used to carry clubs, balls, tees, score cards,umbrellas, golf shoes, articles of clothing and in general everythingthat the golfer needs on and off the golf course. In the past, golf bagshave become more elaborate to hold a full range of articles for thosewho play golf with caddies or utilize carts. Golf bags have also beenevolving to more suitable structures for those persons who do not wishto utilize a full set of clubs or who play golf part time, on shortcourses or the elderly who are not capable of carrying the large weightof a full set of clubs. However, each of these golf bags still for themost part hide the clubs from sight and have a plurality of pocketswhich do not disclose their contents. It is therefore highly desirableto provide a new and improved light weight golf bag. It is also highlydesirable to provide a new and improved golf bag in which the contentsof the bag are visually displayed. It is also highly desirable toprovide a new and improved golf bag in which the contents of the bag arenot hidden from view.

[0003] Raising the demand for such golf bags are the recent restrictionsplaced upon golfers utilizing golf range facilities and golf gamefacilities. Operators of these facilities have experienced so manythefts of balls, tees, clubs, and clothing items that they will notallow admittance to their facilities if anyone is carrying a golf bag inwhich these items may be hidden from view and stolen. In general, theyrequire a golf bag by which all of its contents are generally visible tothe employees of the facilities. It is therefore highly desirable toprovide a new and improved golf bag which maybe utilized to carry clubsinto both driving range and winter computerized golf playing facilitieswhich ban conventional golf bags.

[0004] These requirements by golf driving range and computerized golffacilities require each serious golfer to have at least two golf bags.One for playing the course and one for going to the driving range orcomputerized golf facilities. Thus, it is highly desirable to provide anew and improved golf bag which can be used both for driving range andcomputerized golf facilities and for playing golf with less than a fullset of clubs. Also it is highly desirable to provide a new and improvedgolf bag which is usable for other purposes such as carrying otherelongated handled implements as lawn tools, tennis racquets, and thelike. Further it is highly desirable to provide and new and improvedgolf bag which maybe relatively inexpensive when compared to other golfbags. Finally, it is highly desirable to provide a new and improved golfbag having all of the above features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new andimproved light weight golf bag.

[0006] It is also an object of the invention to provide a new andimproved golf bag in which the contents of the bag are visuallydisplayed.

[0007] It is also an object of the invention to provide a new andimproved golf bag in which the contents of the bag are not hidden fromview.

[0008] It is also an object of the invention to provide a new andimproved golf bag which may be utilized to carry clubs into both drivingrange and winter computerized golf playing facilities which banconventional golf bags.

[0009] It is also an object of the invention to provide a new andimproved golf bag which can be used both for driving range andcomputerized golf facilities and for playing golf with less than a fullset of clubs.

[0010] It is also an object of the invention to provide a new andimproved golf bag which is usable for other purposes such as carryingother elongated handled implements as lawn tools, tennis rackets, andthe like.

[0011] It is also an object of the invention to provide and new andimproved golf bag which may be relatively inexpensive when compared toother golf bags.

[0012] It is also an object of the invention to provide a new andimproved golf bag having all of the above features.

[0013] In the broader aspects of the invention there is provided a newand improved golf bag comprising a shallow handle retainer having abottom and upstanding sides. The upstanding sides defining an openingthrough which handles of golf clubs may be positioned to rest on thebottom of the retainer. A strap extending from the periphery of theopening outwardly away from the retainer the length corresponding to thesubstantial length of the shorter clubs to be used with the golf bag, anadjustable collar secured to the distal end of said strap, both thecollar and the strap are flexible and non-resilient and not expandable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The above-mentioned and other features and objects of theinvention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent andthe invention itself will be better understood by reference to thefollowing description of an embodiment of the invention taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the new and improved golf bag ofthe invention holding a plurality of clubs showing the bottom of thesack;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. 1 showing the new and improved golf bagof the invention with the retainer having transparent upstanding sides;and

[0017]FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 1 showing the handle retainer havingbroken sides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT

[0018] The new and improved golf bag 10 of the invention has a handleretainer 12, a strap 14, and a shaft collar 16. The handle retainer 12has a bottom 18 and upstanding sides 20, the upstanding sides defines anopening 22 through which club handles 24 may be positioned to positiontheir ends on the bottom 18 with the upstanding sides 20 surrounding thehandles 24. In a specific embodiment, a draw string 26 may be providedat the periphery 28 by hemming the side material as shown by thestitches 30 and including the draw string 26 within the hemmed periphery28 so as to protrude openings 32 therein. The draw string 26 may be ofresiliently expandable material in one embodiment and of cord materialin another embodiment. In still another specific embodiment, the drawstring is provided with a slidable latch 34.

[0019] In specific embodiments of the handle retainer 12, there may bepockets 36 in the sides of the handle retainer 12 for small objects suchas coins, tees and the like. In other specific embodiments of the handleretainer 12, the upstanding sides comprise straps 38 to a peripheralstrap 40 which is hemmed to provide the draw string 26. See FIG. 4.Still other embodiments of the handle retainer 12 has sides oftransparent material. See FIG. 2. In all specific embodiments, theheight of the upstanding sides is insufficient to hide even a majorportion of the handles of a golf club.

[0020] In a specific embodiment, the bottom 18 measures approximately 3inches by 3 inches, the upstanding sides 20 have a height from thebottom of approximately 6 inches. The draw string 26 is from about 15inches to about 25 inches in length. In the specific embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the bottom 18 is of square shape. In other specific embodimentsas shown in FIG. 2, the bottom 18 is of a circular shape and still otherembodiments of the handle retainer 12, the bottom 18 is of othergeometric shapes including pentagons, hexagons, triangles and the like.See FIG. 4. In one specific embodiment, there is a pocket 36 on each ofthe sides or several contiguous pockets 36 in the upstanding side of theretainer.

[0021] The strap 14 extends from the retainer and has opposite ends 42,44. One end 42 is secured by stitching to the periphery 28 of the handleretainer 12. The other end 44 is remote from the handle retainer 12 andhas the midpoint 46 of a collar 48 stitched to the other end 44. In allspecific embodiments, strap 14 has a length of the substantial length ofthe handle of a golf club carried by the golf bag. In specificembodiments for conventional golf clubs, the strap 14 has a length ofabout 24 inches to about 48 inches and a width of 1 inch. In thesespecific embodiments the material of the strap 14 is chosen from thegroup of available strap materials. In a specific embodiment the strap14 may be of polypropylene or nylon webbing material.

[0022] The collar 48 is of similar strap material. The collar 48 hasopposite ends 50, 52 and a median point 46. The median point 46 issecured to end 44 of strap 14. The opposite collar ends 50, 52 areaffixed with fasteners 54. In a specific embodiment the collar may beapproximately 10 inches long.

[0023] In a specific embodiment the collar 48 may be chosen from strapsof the group of available strap materials. In a specific embodiment, thefasteners 54 of the collar may include hook and loop materials, snaps,buttons, and ties. In a specific embodiment, the collar 48 and the strap14 may be made of the same strap material.

[0024] In operation the new and improved golf bag 10 of the inventionprovides for carrying multiple handled implements on the back of aperson easily and comfortably. The handled implements which may be golfclubs, lawn garden tools, fishing poles, hockey sticks, skis and thelike, all have a flat end which are positioned within the handleretainer 12 with the flat end adjacent bottom 18. The upstanding sides20 of the handle retainer maintains those ends within the handleretainer. A strap 18 extends the length of the implements carried andthe collar 48 is tightly placed around the remote ends of the implementsand secured by the fasteners 54. The strap 14 may then be thrown overthe shoulder of the person carrying the implements and the implementscarried easily without strain.

[0025] Pockets 36 on the bag handle retainer 12 may carry small itemssuch as change, golf tees, and the like. When used as a light weightgolf bag, seven golf clubs can be carried by the new and improved golfbag 10. The clubs carried are completely visibly displayed. While theends in the retainer 12 if the upstanding sides 20 are opaque are hiddenfrom view, that portion is so small, no concern is raised by golf rangeowners, driving range and winter computerized playing facility owners.Pockets 36 within the handle retainer 12 are large enough to containkeys, coins, jewelry or watches removed temporarily, and the like butare not large enough to concern owners of driving range and winterizedcomputer golf playing facilities. The new and improved golf bag 10 ofthe invention is extremely light weight such that clubs, implements,lawn and garden tools, skis, and the like may all be carried by a personable to carry the weight of the golf clubs, skis, lawn and gardenimplements themselves without any extra effort. The new and improvedgolf bag 10 of the invention is relatively inexpensive to manufactureand is convenient to use. When not in use, all of the straps may bestored within the handle retainer 12 as shown in FIG. 5.

[0026] While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed herein for purposes of illustration, the protection affordedby any patent which may issue on this application is not strictlylimited to the disclosed embodiment; but rather extends to allstructures and arrangements which fall fairly within the scope of theclaims which are appended hereto:

What is claimed is:
 1. A light weight bag for carrying elongatedarticles comprising an end receptacle having a bottom and upstandingsides, said upstanding sides defining an opening through which saidarticles may be positioned in said receptacle with said article ends onsaid bottom and between said sides, an elongated strap having oppositeends, one of said strap ends being secured to the periphery of saidreceptacle, the other of said strap ends being secured to a collarhaving opposite ends between said collar ends, said collar havingfasteners at said opposite collar ends, said fasteners allowing saidcollar to be wrapped around said articles remote from said receptacle tomaintain said articles in said receptacle and to carry said articles byplacing said strap over the shoulder of the carrier.
 2. The bag of claim1 wherein said bag is hemmed around the periphery of said opening, adrawstring is positioned within said hem for closing said opening. 3.The bag of claim 2 wherein said drawstring may be of resilientlyexpandable material.
 4. The bag of claim 2 wherein said drawstring maybe provided with a slidable latch.
 5. The bag of claim 1 wherein saidreceptacle has pockets therein.
 6. The bag of claim 1 wherein saidreceptacle has upstanding sides of transparent material.
 7. The bag ofclaim 1 wherein upstanding sides have a height insufficient to hide allof the handles of golf clubs carried by said bag.
 8. The bag of claim 1wherein said bottom defines a parallelogram.
 9. The bag of claim 1wherein said bottom defines a circle.
 10. The bag of claim 1 whereinsaid bottom defines a multi sided parallelogram, said upstanding sidescomprise a strap extending from each of said sides to a peripheral strapdefining said opening.
 11. The bag of claim 1 wherein said bottommeasures approximately 3 inches between opposite portions of theupstanding sides, wherein said upstanding sides have a height from saidbottom of approximately 6 inches.
 12. The bag of claim 1 wherein saiddrawstring is from about 15 to about 25 inches.
 13. The bag of claim 1wherein said strap has a length of about 24 inches to about 48 inches.14. The bag of claim 1 wherein said collar is approximately 10 incheslong.
 15. The bag of claim 1 wherein said strap and collar are ofpolymeric webbing materials.
 16. The bag of claim 1 wherein saidfasteners on said collar are chosen from the group of fastenersconsisting of hook and loop, snap, button and tie fasteners.
 17. A lightweight bag for carrying elongated articles comprising an end receptaclehaving a bottom and upstanding sides, said upstanding sides defining anopening through which said articles maybe positioned in said receptaclewith said article ends on said bottom and between said sides, anelongated strap having opposite ends, one of said strap ends beingsecured to the periphery of said receptacle, the other of said strapends being secured to a collar having opposite ends between said collarends, said collar having fasteners at said opposite collar ends, saidfasteners allowing said collar to be wrapped around said articles remotefrom said receptacle to maintain said articles in said receptacle and tocarry said articles by placing said strap over the shoulder of thecarrier, said bag is hemmed around the periphery of said opening, adrawstring is positioned within said hem for closing said opening, saiddrawstring may be provided with a slidable latch, said strap has alength of about 24 inches to about 48 inches, said collar isapproximately 10 inches long.
 18. The bag of claim 7 wherein saidreceptacle has pockets therein.
 19. The bag of claim 17 wherein saidstrap and collar are of polymeric webbing materials.